Srinagar, Apr 28 (IANS): A record of nearly a lakh and a half tourists visited the tulip garden in Srinagar city this spring, an official said.

A brainchild of former state chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Srinagar tulip garden has become a major tourist attraction during the spring season.

"I have been associated with the development of the tulip garden for the last five years. This year a record number of 1.40 lakh people visited the garden. It remained opened for nearly a month this season," said Javaid Ahmad Shah, garden in-charge.

"We had visitors from other places in the country and also foreign tourists from Malaysia, Thailand and Europe," Shah said.

"This year's record number of visitors indicates we are going to have even larger numbers of visitors next year, and for this we must prepare well in advance," said Shah.

However, dozens of visitors returned disappointed Saturday as the garden was closed because the tulip bloom was over.

"The tulip bloom is over now," Shah said.

To let the people have a glimpse of the vast expanse of the garden situated on the slopes of the Zabarwan Hills on the banks of Dal Lake, authorities Saturday removed the canvass blinds from the chain link fencing of the garden.

Entry to the garden was regulated and an entry fee of Rs.50 per visitor was charged.